Unfortunately for Fiji, the beach area at Nadi Bay is very shabby so doesn't give visitors a good first hand impression of the country. Nadi Town itself has lots of plush handicraft boutiques, clothes shops, several good restaurants and internet cafes. Its a functional town although here the tourism touts are on the streets trying to befriend you and sell their tours.
Denarau Island
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Highlands
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Nadi Town is the place to arrange your travel plans and to organise day tours to the beautiful Mamanuca and Yasawa Group. Most backpackers find themselves hanging around for a few days. Nadi's greatest attractions are the surrounding rural countryside and mountains which can be explored by foot or bus. Koroyanitu National Park, about half an hour north of Nadi, is particularly beautiful and has overnight accommodation, trails and guided village treks. If you want to stay outside of Nadi, try budget Stony Creek (10 minutes inland in rural countryside), First Landing in Vuda or Seashell Cove at Momi Bay (both about 30 minutes by car).
Nadi Accommodation
Nadi Airport has a disappointing beach for Fiji's standards, often littered, with murky seas and attracting dubious characters - robbery here is unfortunately a problem. However, with lots of affordable airport hotels and other accommodation, independent restaurants, good shops and a variety of sightseeing tours, Nadi is an excellent base. There are lots of tour companies offering day trips from BBQ's on uninhabited islands to sailing trips, dolphin tours and 4-wheel drive excursions into remote mountains.
Rural Nadi
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Mountains
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Nadi Town centre is set a mile inland from the coast and most accommodation sits alongside the busy road connecting the town and nadi international airport, a distance of about 10km. Taxis are always available at nadi international airport (about F$8 to town) and there is an excellent network of buses (just 50 cents to town). The beach areas of Wailoloa and New Town are much quieter about a mile down a dirt road (infrequent buses mean you can feel cut off here) and offer several lovely small resorts and backpacker hostels with views of the offshore islands.
Highlands
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Denarau Island
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Just offshore (connected by small bridge, 25 minutes by road from the international airport) is Denarau Island and the Sheraton resort complex. This is the Fiji's only has complete resort complex - three resorts side-by-side, villas, boutiques, restaurants and an upmarket and pristine golf and tennis centre. The beach here is of dark sand, nice for strolling but the waters are usually too murky for snorkelling.
About half an hour by road north of the airport is the attractive area Vuda with stunning views over the bay and surrounding mountains. Vuda has an attractive sandy beach although not good for swimming and the Vuda sailing marina.
Nadi Area Accommodation
Travel Agents and Packages
Last Minute Specials
Local Flight Transfers
Local Car Hire Companies
Back to Fiji Travel Guide
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